Transit Guide
Suez Canal Transit Guide
Northbound Convoy
Arrival time: 0100 HRS North of latitude 29 42.8 N In favorable navigational conditions, the limit time for arrivals from South is to be extended as shown below.
Southbound Convoy
In favourable navigational conditions, the limit time for arrivals from North is to be extended as shown below.
Documents Required
The following documents and certificates should be on board ships passing the Canal:
- Suez canal special tonnage certificate and calculation sheet.
- Certificate of Registry, showing latest ship’s name and present owners
- General arrangement Plan
- Capacity Plan
- Engine Room Plan
- Statistical declaration
- Copies of cargo manifests and bills of lading.
- Declaration concerning use of double bottom tanks and the lower parts of the high tanks.
- Declaration concerning vessels in ballast
- Declaration concerning state of navigability
- Classification certificate
Escort Tugs :-
Laden Condition :
- Under 70.000 SCNT if SCA deem it necessary or if draft exceeds 47 ft, one tug escort
- Between 70.000 – 90.000 SCNT, one tug escort
- Over 90.000 SCNT, two tugs escort
In ballast:
- Over 130.000 SCNT, one tug escort
- Ships with beam 218 – 233 ft, one tug. If beam over 233 ft, two tugs
- Towed scrap vessels 80.000 SCNT and over, one tug
LPG/LNG vessels from 25.000 SCNT will be escorted by one tug (except if gas free). If tank on deck completely separated from cargo tanks with maximum tonnage 180 tonss will be considered as Gas free.
Exemptions from tug escort:
- Laden if carrying other than LPG cargo.
- Ballast (NGF) but after a laden voyage with cargo other than LPG.
- If in ballast must present a Gas Free Certificate issued by a recognized class or locally authorized survey bureau.
Suez Canal Restrictions
Height
High bridge Max air draft is 68 m
Length
No restrictions
Beam
Current maximum permissible beam 245 ft. Ships with beam over 245 ft may be allowed to transit the Canal under special request.
Draft
Ships can transit Suez Canal South or Northbound with up to maximum draft 62 ft with beam 175 ft.
For ships of larger beam exist a comprehensive table of SCA, which provides the draft a ship can transit.(See the draft/beam table for further information )